The Best 1980s Singers Of All Time Ranked
The 1980s saw the emergence of electronic dance music and new wave, also known as Modern Rock. As disco fell out of fashion in the decade’s early years, genres such as post-disco, Italo disco, Euro disco, and dance-pop became more popular. Rock music continued to enjoy a wide audience. Soft rock, glam metal, thrash metal, shred guitar characterized by heavy distortion, pinch harmonics, and whammy bar abuse became very popular. Adult contemporary, quiet storm, and smooth jazz gained popularity. In the late 1980s, glam metal became the largest, most commercially successful brand of music worldwide. The 1980s are commonly remembered for a great increase in the use of digital recording, associated with the usage of synthesizers, with synth-pop music and other electronic genres featuring non-traditional instruments increasing in popularity. Also during this decade, several major electronic genres were developed, including electro, techno, house, freestyle, and Eurodance, rising in prominence during the 1990s and beyond. Here are the best 1980’s Singers 80’s ranked.
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.20. Jon Bon Jovi
“John Francis Bongiovi, Jr., better known by his stage name Jon Bon Jovi, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, and actor, best known as the founder and frontman of the hair band Bon Jovi from, which was founded by Jon and his pianist, David Bryan, in 1983. He is famous for his band’s hit songs “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” and “Wanted Dead or Alive” which were all released in 1986, on the album Slippery When Wet.”
19. Madonna
“She had such a beautiful voice and all her songs have meaning behind them. My favorite songs are ‘La Isla Bonita’ and ‘Like a Prayer’. They both have very good background stories which fit the music perfectly. When you look at her then and look at her now she has changed quite a lot.”
18. James Hetfield
“James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica.”
17. Morten Harket
“Try and sing ‘take on me’. Ever wondered why one of the most popular songs of all time is not a Karaoke classic. Because it’s impossible to sing ‘well’ unless your name is Morten Harket. Oh yes, then try and sing ‘summer moved on’ and hold ‘that’ note. Bloody impossible.”
16. Rick Astley
“Richard Paul “Rick” Astley (Born February 6, 1966 in Newton-le-Willows, U.K.) is a British singer/songwriter, also known for “Rickrolling” . However before that he started in a church choir and a couple of local bands, before attaining success as a popular singer in the late 80s and early 90s, known for his #1 hits “Never Gonna Give You Up” & “Together Forever” before he switched to soul after his world tour in 1989, in which he managed another hit “Cry for Help” scoring at #7 in both the U.S and U.K.”
15. Whitney Houston
“Greatest singer of all time… most iconic head voice, most iconic vibrato, and purest tone of any singer to ever pick up a microphone. Oozing stage presence, she was just really a icon. There isn’t one female pop singer that doesn’t state Whitney as one of, if not their biggest influence.”
14. Bruce Springsteen
“The Boss, even though he doesn’t have the most beautiful voice, has managed to bring to the mainstream some of the greatest rockers and ballads about the American working class and the dismantlement of the American Dream. No other artist in history has had the same consistency, passion and truthfulness towards his beliefs and that is why Bruce Springsteen deserves a spot at the top of the charts. Also, the 3-hour shows he delivers night after night after night are just as electrifying as ever. Out of all the artists listed here, The Boss is definitely the one who can still bring it.”
13. George Michael
“Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, known professionally as George Michael, was an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist who rose to fame as a member of the music duo Wham!. His voice is second to none.”
12. Axl Rose
“He Is the founder and lead singer of the hard rock band Guns N’ Roses. He is a celebrated but controversial figure in the world of rock. Axl Rose is the best of course! His unique voice CAN NOT be accurately imitated by anyone, his dances, He can really move and does snake dance and other dances so smoothly”
11. Steve Perry
“This man has a voice like no other. Everything I have ever heard him sing, and I own all of Journey’s albums as well as Perry’s Street Talk, has been amazing. One of the very best things I can think of happening is for him to rejoin Journey. To attend one of their concerts would be a dream come true, and I would very much like to hear a new album… or two… or ten. He was a very important factor in turning Journey into something special.”
10. Tom Araya
“Tomás Enrique “Tom” Araya Díaz is a Chilean American musician, best known as the bassist and vocalist of the American thrash metal band Slayer. You may not think he has a good singing voice, but his way of rap-yelling influenced the whole death metal genre, and is still unique to this day.”
9. Brian Johnson
“Brian Johnson is an English singer and songwriter. Since 1980, he is the lead singer of the Australian rock band AC/DC, with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. As of April 2016, Johnson is not participating in the remainder of the Rock or Bust World Tour due to hearing problems.”
8. Ozzy Osbourne
“John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948. He is also known as ”The Prince of Darkness”. Ozzy is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the band Black Sabbath. Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 and has since had a successful solo career, releasing 11 studio albums.”
7. Rob Halford
“Robert John Arthur “Rob” Halford is an English singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest and famed for his powerful wide ranging operatic voice.”
6. Tony Hadley
“Great power, control, and conviction in Tony Hadley’s voice. In the 1980’s he was hot: tall, handsome, with amazing vocal talent. I think he is one of the best. His voice still sounds natural, powerful and confident.”
5. Ronnie James Dio
“He fronted and/or founded numerous groups including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. He is credited with popularizing the “metal horns” hand gesture in metal culture and is known for his medieval themed lyrics. Dio possessed a powerful versatile vocal range capable of singing both hard rock and lighter ballads; according to Rainbow/Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore upon hearing him sing, “I felt shivers down my spine.” Dio sold over 47 million albums throughout his career.”
4. Freddie Mercury
“He is known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the British rock band Queen. He also became known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range. Before he became a singer he has been in 3 other bands (Ibex, Sour Milk Sea, and The Hectics). He died on November 24, 1991 from bronchopneumonia as a result from HIV/AIDS”
3. Bruce Dickinson
“He is most well known for being the lead singer in heavy metal band Iron Maiden and his solo career.Outside his career in music, Dickinson has pursued a number of other activities. He undertook a career as a commercial pilot for Astraeus Airlines, which led to a number of media-reported ventures such as captaining Iron Maiden’s converted charter aeroplane, Ed Force One, during their world tours.”
2. Kurt Cobain
“He started the grunge band Nirvana, which became one of the most successful bands ever. He was a talented yet troubled grunge performer. Kurt Cobain became a rock legend in the 1990s with his band. He committed suicide at his Seattle home in 1994.”
1. Michael Jackson
“He had the best selling album not just of the 80s but of ALL TIME. He created the most groundbreaking music video of ALL TIME – thriller and the most groundbreaking dance called the moonwalk which looks like he is walking backwards. Who can forget his amazing songs like Billie Jean, Beat It, Bad, Man In The Mirror, Dirty Diana and Smooth Criminal? Michael was a phenomanal singer, dancer, songwritter and entertainer. He had it ALL. He was also the greatest humanitarian. He gave away ALL his money from his BAD tour to charity. He is the most generous celebrity the world has seen as well as the most humble thoughtful and kind. Michael Jackson was too good for this world.”
